Marilao Mayor Juanito Santiago lauded the municipality’s tax collection efforts that enabled the building of its first public college, therapy center, convention center, and a new municipal hall. A dialysis center is already underway. 

Mayor Santiago said the local government was able to fund the post-graduate studies of public school teachers from 18 elementary schools, two high schools, and Pambayang Dalubhasaan ng Marilao (PDM). A total of 100 teachers graduated with a master’s degree early in 2013, with a second batch already enrolled.

The municipality recognized SM Marilao as the top taxpayer for two consecutive years among 25 private companies in the business and real estate sectors. Mayor Santiago particularly recognized SM Supermalls, the mother company of the local mall branch, during the opening ceremonies of Buwan ng Wika in PDM.

“If not for these payments, we would not be able to build this school,” Mayor Santiago said, adding that PDM, the municipality’s first public college, was completed in 2010 without a loan. He said 1,800 students from poor families are enrolled in PDM.

SM officials attended the event, headed by SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia, SM Supermalls VP Mall Operations of North Luzon Engr. Bien Mateo, SM City Marilao mall manager Bernadette Velasco, SM City Valenzuela mall manager Hazel Reyes, and SM Foundation executive director for education Carmen Linda Atayde.

SM Supermalls owns and operates SM City Marilao, a shopping center that opened in Barangay Ibayo in 2003. It is the first SM mall in the Province of Bulacan.

Press release from SM Supermalls